Abstract

The activated β-lactam aldehydes 37, 41 and 57 were synthesised. Aldehydes 37 and 57 proved to be more versatile substrates for our “ring switching” strategy to homochiral glutamate antagonists than the corresponding compounds in the pyroglutamate or 6-oxopipecolinate series had been. Substantial libraries of homochiral heteroaromatic glycine derivatives with potential for activity at specific glutamate receptor sub-types were prepared from these aldehydes. The aldehyde 41, containing an additional anion stabilising group, underwent a retro-aldol process under “ring switching” conditions.

Item Type:

Article

Additional Information:

DWY directed the work and is corresponding author. All authors were from Sussex. The work presents a general synthesis of a variety of homochiral amino acids designed to be ibotenate type glutamate antagonists which should therefore show promise as potential drugs for a variety of central nervous system disorders.